Darwen academy drives cricket forward

A DARWEN school has sealed another sporting partnership – this time with a local Cricket club.

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA) has opened a cricket academy, in partnership with Darwen Cricket Club and the Lancashire Cricket Board.

The deal came just two months after DACA announced it had opened a football academy to feed local talent to semi-professional Chorley FC, managed by ex-Blackburn Rovers captain Garry Flitcroft.

And trials start at 4pm today for the first batch of 16 to 19-year-old Darreners hoping to hit the cricketing world for six.

Academy director Paul Earnshaw said: “All players in the cricket academy will receive a tailor-made package which will provide the opportunity to gain the valuable qualifications and experience that they will need to pursue their chosen careers.

“They will have the full choice of the academic courses offered in the Sixth Form at DACA.

These will be completed alongside up to 10 hours per week of cricket training.”

The academy aims to become the best centre of its kind in the North West.

Players will be able to improve their cricket skills, but the academy will also cater for those wanting to get into coaching and students will take academic qualifications alongside their cricket training.

The facilities at the academy include a full-size floodlit 3G astroturf pitch for fielding practices and Twenty20 fixtures during early and late season, a large sports hall with indoor net facilities and a coaching observation balcony, high quality fitness suite and purpose-built outdoor net facilities.

John Cordingley, captain of Darwen CC, said: “We are really pleased to be partnering with DACA, and the cricket academy will have some of the best facilities in the North West.

“This collaboration will enable us to develop some of the best young talent from the area who, if they show potential, will get first team opportunities.”

Today’s trials are at DACA and at Darwen Cricket Club, Birch Hall Avenue, on Friday, June 8.

For an information pack and to book a place, call 01254 819500 or email cricketacademy@daca.uk.com